A new report is examining the potential for ethanol to become a low-carbon fuel for ocean-going ships, potentially creating another market for U.S. corn-based ethanol. The National Lab of the Rockies report, “Evaluation of Ethanol Use in Marine Shipping,” examines ethanol's technical, economic, and environmental potential in the maritime sector. Researchers say ethanol's compatibility with existing methanol engine technology, scalability, and environmental characteristics could make it an option for marine fuel. The report estimates the currently operating fleet of methanol dual-fuel ships could consume roughly two billion gallons of ethanol annually under high-substitution scenarios. Ryan LeGrand, president and CEO of the U.S. Grains and BioProducts Council, says even modest adoption could create billions of gallons of new ethanol demand and provide another long-term market for corn growers. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor says the report highlights ethanol's potential to expand beyond traditional transportation markets. The U.S. currently has two million gallons of idle ethanol production.
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